You may be wondering... why are dams so damn important?

If you asked the next person you hold a conversation with how they feel about dams, most likely the first thing out of their mouth won’t be how they find the controversy surrounding dam removal fascinating. Most likely they will instead try to communicate how majestic and imposing the last dam they visited looked as they drove past. Dams are among one of the greatest physical expressions of man’s ability to harness nature.

These sites leave us feeling in awe of our own inventiveness, and I’m no exception. I can still remember the first time I visited Hoover Dam. I left feeling that we—the human race—are capable of such great feats. I find it interesting to ponder on how man does such a fantastic job of overshadowing what greatness was already there before the dam was ever built. I was blinded by the brilliance of invention.

The Hoover Dam

Dams should inspire us, for they are a masterful innovation. The problem doesn't lie inherently in human modernization but the techniques we use to create progress. Forgetting there was a flowing river here before we built the dam does not coincide with the thoughtful stewards we all strive to be.

The point of this website isn't to tear down dams, literally or figuratively. Think of it more as my personal journey to find out why people on both sides of this issue feel the way they do. Before working on this website my knowledge of the dam removal controversy was pathetically superficial. How can I as a biologist complain about the ignorance of others, when I automatically take the side of environmentalist without acknowledging how complex and fluid these issues are. My goal is to surround myself in this topic and come out the other side with a cohesive compromise fitting of such an important issue.

Construction of the 3 Gorges Dam, the world's largest power station

 
I'll look at the history of dam construction in America. What were the initial goals of dams? It's also important to find out what do the scientist think about dams and their removal. What are the advantages to damming a river? Conversely, why do people want to remove them? What does the data support?

The greatest question left unanswered looms over my head even as I write this: if we remove these dams as energy sources, what will we add in their place? This question is particularly vexing considering the state I currently call home, Washington, is the 3rd largest producer of hydroelectric power.

via Dept of Energy

What is a viable solution for them? Could wind turbines supply the entire state with power? While searching for a viable solution, my head only spun at a greater pace than before. It seemed that looking for answers only ever led to more questions, but even so, I am reminded that ignorance is bliss, but knowledge is power.

Onward and upward!